"You know what I am talking about," the man replies, "you owe me, Axel."
"I owe you nothing."
"I gave you a place in my gang, a purpose. I taught you everything I knew. Hell, I treated you like a son."
"Fuck you," Axel replies.
The man chuckles, "You never could get away from your Italian blood, could you? I tried to teach you to be calm and measured in your approach. To think strategically before you made your move. To make a plan and focus on the end goal. And you were nearly there, too," he shakes his head, "but I should have known, the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. In the end, you reverted to your true nature. Like your old man, you let your emotions get the better of you, and now look where that’s landed you."
"Who the fuck are you?" Seb scowls.
"You mean your brother hasn’t told you?" the man asks, his tone gleeful. "Shit, I do love big reveals. And set pieces. You’ve gotta admit, it doesn’t get more impressive than this, with most of the key players all in one place."
"What the fuck are you talking about?" Luca growls.
The man holds up his hand, "Let’s not get ahead of ourselves, shall we?" He turns to Axel, "You want to tell them, or should I?"
Axel’s jaw tics. His shoulders flex, but he doesn’t move. Doesn’t say another word.
"Guess I’ll have to do the honors, eh?" The man all but cackles, "But first, allow me to introduce myself. Freddie Nielsen, at your service. If the surname is familiar, it’s because I am related to the legendary Nielsen brothers."
"The fuck you talking about?" Massimo lowers his chin to his chest.
"You know Ronnie and Reggie Nielsen? The well-known English mobsters who also happened to be twins? There was a Hollywood film made about them, with a very famous Hollywood actor playing both lead roles. I do fancy I am more handsome than him though. They should have given the role to me, don't you think?"
A bead of sweat runs down my temple. Axel doesn’t take his gaze off of me. I hold onto his gaze, drawing strength from it. He won’t let anything happen to me. He can’t let anything happen to me. He’ll save me. I know he will.
"And you are the Sovranos, of course. At least, you are better looking than your father."
Seb stiffens, "You knew our father?"
"DidIknow your father?" Freddie laughs.
I sense the vibrations roll up his chest and try to put distance between us, but he yanks me even closer to him. My skin crawls and a trickle of revulsion slithers down my spine. Terror grips my chest and I stare at Axel, willing him to do something, anything, to help me. His jaw flexes and the nerve grows even more prominent at his temple. The fingers of his right hand curl slightly. My gaze flicks to his hand, then back to his face. He shakes his head, the motion almost imperceptible, except I have been watching him so closely that I spot it.
"We were partners," Freddie clarifies.
"Partners?" Luca frowns, "Dear old dad didn’t do partners. He wouldn’t even entertain the thought of any of us succeeding him. He had to die for Michael to finally become Don."
"And why do you think that was?" Freddie waves his hand holding the gun.
All of my muscles tense. Axel’s chest rises and falls. His gaze tracks the gun as Freddie leans forward and further into me in his excitement, "He already had a partner, so he couldn’t entertain the thought of anyone else cutting in on his empire."
Axel’s gaze narrows, the skin around his mouth whitens, his shoulders flex, and he seems like he is about to rush forward and drag Freddie off of me. This time, it’s me who shakes my head slightly.Please, I plead with my gaze,please, don’t do anything foolish.
He must understand me, for he nods.
"I don’t believe you," Seb finally says, "and even if I did, what difference would that make?"
"What do you want from us?" Luca growls.
"Not you, him," Freddie jerks his chin at Axel. "Shoot him."
"What?" Axel scowls.
"Your brother." Freddie nods in Seb’s direction, "You can start with him."
"Why would I do that?" Axel growls.